Wally Thorson

Director, Corporate Programs

As Director of Corporate Programs, Wally Thorson works with established companies to develop the innovation skills, networks, and mojo they need to thrive in the next economy.

With over 20 years experience in senior corporate innovation and technology R&D roles, Wally brings fresh insights and practical solutions to the organizational, cultural, and business prioritization challenges facing today’s corporate leaders and innovation champions.

Wally understands the tension companies must resolve between maximizing today’s business value and navigating the uncertainties of creating new growth engines for tomorrow, all in an environment of unprecedented exponential change. Startups have much to offer the corporate world to help them get to new growth faster. Through Wally’s leadership, Platform’s corporate programs connect Alberta companies into a global network of startups and innovation ecosystems, complemented by workshops and advisory services to help corporate teams learn and apply leading innovation best practices including Open Innovation, Business Model Thinking and The Lean Startup (Customer Discovery, Market Validation and Iterative Development).

Prior to joining Platform Calgary, Wally was Director of Technology and Market Intelligence at Kinetica Ventures, Advanced Technology Integration Leader and Director of Engineering at Honeywell Analytics, and served in a number of technology leadership roles at Nortel Networks and in a solid oxide fuel cell startup. Wally is a registered Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of Alberta.

“Creativity is thinking new things. Innovation is doing new things” -Theodore Levitt, Harvard Business School